Connecting business owners with Super Bowl opportunities

More than 800 tickets have been sold, and nearly 90 percent of exhibit booth spaces taken, for The Big Game Experience on Wednesday at the Meadowlands Expo Center. The event is for business owners interested in planning on hosting or attending events related to the February 2014 Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford.

“There is a lot of pent-up interest in the Super Bowl,” said Ron Simoncini, of Axiom Communications, which is producing the event and also developed The Big Game Experience website for the Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau. “People want to gain access, and this is an opportunity to showcase themselves. It is being met with a great deal of enthusiasm.”

NFL broadcaster Bob Papa has signed on to introduce Alfred Kelly, CEO of the Super Bowl host committee. Kelly will speak at “The Big Game Pros,” one of two panel sessions at the expo.

“Bob Papa is very entertaining and personable,” Simoncini said. “He’s a very in-demand guy. When he heard what we are doing, he made himself available at a vastly reduced rate. We are thrilled to have him.”

Along with Papa and Kelly, North Jersey Media Group publisher Steven Borg; New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority CEO Wayne Hasenbalg; and Frank Vuono, a partner at the North Jersey firm 16W Marketing, will be on hand to discuss the status of events related to the Super Bowl, how best to connect to resources and what long-term benefits businesses might see after the game.

The other panel session, “You Are the Big Game,” will be hosted by event planners and entertainment professionals, aimed at helping communities, civic organizations and nonprofits host a wide variety of events and programs.

“The Super Bowl is an exciting opportunity for local businesses, and our panelists will make sure they have a great game plan for financial success next February,” said Jim Kirkos, CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, in prepared remarks.